How to Do Lying Prone Quadriceps

Lying Prone Quadriceps — start position demonstration photo
Start
Lying Prone Quadriceps — end position demonstration photo
End

Start and end of one clean rep of Lying Prone Quadriceps.

Quick facts

Primary muscleQuads
Secondary muscles—
EquipmentBodyweight
CategoryStretching

How to perform Lying Prone Quadriceps

  1. Lay face down on the floor with your partner kneeling beside you. Flex one knee and raise that leg off the ground, attempting to touch your glutes with your foot. Your partner should hold the knee and ankle. This will be your starting position.
  2. Attempt to extend your knee while your partner prevents any actual movement.
  3. After 10-20 seconds, relax your muscles as your partner gently pushes the foot towards your glutes, further stretching the quadriceps and hip flexors.
  4. After 10-20 seconds, switch sides.

Muscles worked

  • Quads (primary): extends the knee to drive squats, lunges and jumps.

Sets & reps by goal

GoalSets × repsLoadRest
Strength3–5 × 3–5Heavy (~85%+)2–3 min
Hypertrophy3–4 × 8–12Moderate (~65–75%)60–90 s
Endurance2–3 × 15–20Lighter (~50–60%)30–45 s

As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.

Form tips

  • Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes and push the whole foot into the floor.
  • Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
  • Ease in until you feel mild tension, never pain, and breathe out as you sink a little deeper.
  • Stop a rep or two short of failure on most sets to keep form clean and recover faster.

Common mistakes

  • Letting the knees cave inward as you push out of the bottom.
  • Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
  • Bouncing into the stretch instead of holding it steadily.

Frequently asked questions

What muscles does Lying Prone Quadriceps work?

Lying Prone Quadriceps is a focused movement that primarily works the quads.

What equipment do I need for Lying Prone Quadriceps?

None — Lying Prone Quadriceps is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.

How many sets and reps should I do for Lying Prone Quadriceps?

It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.

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